He was born when the world was at the brink of war
His father left him, he learned later what for
Gone for years, left a wife and two kids
In a war-torn country, all living in fear
They were being persecuted with no where run on an island
His kind was forced into hiding
In the bomb shelters, rubber in his mouth
For the impact to keep his teeth from coming out
He saw things no child should have to see
Streets and rivers both flooded with casualties
Father finally returned reunited at last
Didn't even recognize him he ran right past
The war had ended but, they were no longer welcome
In their own land, it was under new command
Exiled to a place that never wanted em there
They made it quite clear, and would touch and stare
Cause they had never seen nobody with no brown skin
He had to be careful when he hung around them
But he got by, discovered his love for music
Jazz got him things that he just wasn't used to
Took it with him everywhere, loved it so much
Moved to america, cause he heard there was plenty there
Got an education but still kept playing
Traveled the world, came back and put his faith in
The Glory of God, taught by a bass player
Had sons of his own, and through them he's grown
And now they're the one's looking out for him
They love him and I can tell you that they're proud of him

CHORUS:
He survived the war, his life needed more
And now it's come around full circle
He became his own man, in his homeland
And now it's come around full circle
He loved the music and knew to use it
And now it's come around full circle
And understand he lives for his family
And now it's come around full circle

She came into this world not as a baby girl
But as grown woman cause she was pushed out to pay the bills
And since then she's been on her own
Birth certificate reads father unknown
She had an old picture of a group of men
On a reservation, but didn't even know if he was one of them
Never had the time to give it any thought
The oldest of four and caretaker of them all
Mother unfit so she was forced to live
In foster home after home after orphanage
At sixteen she gave birth to her first kid
Living in the projects she prayed he would outlive
Dropped out of high school, never went to college
When she walked into buildings she was never acknowledged
She knew somehow she had to make an honest living
She used what she had and finally started singing
After she Iearned that God, was watching over her
From a bass player, the answer to her prayers
No formal education but she got into a graduate
Program, she worked hard cause she so was glad to get
Any opportunity, and that mindset is still in her
A teacher now, because that work is real to her
Made a new life for her kids out of nothin
Doctorate in hand cause she knows how to hustle
But her greatest feat is not her PHD
Her biggest accomplishment is of a higher degree
It's the fact that her sons can count on her
It's the fact that her sons can be proud of her

CHORUS:
She knows how to hustle, works on the double
And now it's come around full circle
Love is the reason she could rise above it
And now it's come around full circle
She takes nothing she's handed for granted
And now it's come around full circle
And understand she lives for her family
And now it's come around full circle

I met my brother in the womb
We both had to make the move late june
He was always a few steps ahead of me
But never letting me go never forgetting me
Most of the kids at school never accepted me
So together we formed a team for whenever we
Moved from city to city and it seemed every
Place was diverse reflecting our own heredity
We never had that much
None of the other kids had never seen working class like us
The amount of money they had was transparent
I couldn't relate, we never had grandparents
Moved cause a good education was needed
Ma wanted us to have more choice than she did
And ironically we were all cheated
My brother got wise quick, that's how he succeeded
I remained cause I felt love for a moment
But it was never possible my heart was stolen
I sought something to burn
Ruined all my relationships, got me what I deserved
Lesson learned, a step closer to my destination
Finally left school to start my education
Life abroad saw my pain lifted
I thank God we could afford that plane ticket
And now I realize how all this came to be
Now I see what they were doing when they were naming me
Mother father thank you for allowing me
To become badi, I hope your proud of me
It's full circle